Obama, France, and Race

this is a great pod it's time to reconnect with france because our relationship with france is tarnish because of bush and black pride in france is alive and well.

I am from Senegal but I was raised in France for 15 years...I can totally relate to this story...In all the years, I've been African blacks do not occupy much space in the public life...you can count on 1 hand how many African public figures there are. Its still the same tv hosts, same anchors, same shows, same celebrities, same politicians, same public figures as when I was growing up...

The French do applaud the success of Obama as a change from Bush's presidency. However, a black French president will not happen anytime soon. France has always been known as a nationalist country. Just look at its history (and i had to study it)..there are people who are 100% French unlike the US which was built on immigrants.
And when only a few years ago, the National Front (extreme right wing party) almost made it to the presidency, France is a long way from having its own version of Obama who will break the race barrier and inspire people...

This is really fascinating. Thank you for this pod. A terrific insight into another culture reflecting on our culture.

Thanks for this pod. I had no idea that France had race especially since so many Black American's moved to France to escape racism in the 1940's. Thank you so much for opening my eyes.

i agree with just about all of the responses, except the one that is blind, you may not have been aware of it, but, trust me, it was there in paridise

I grew up overseas, and Americans (no matter the color) were all the same to each other. I saw no difference between any race, and when I returned to America, I was really freaked by the culture shock of it all.

It's insane.

I grew up in paradise I think.

This really changed my perceptive of France because I thought it was the complete opposite. During the 40s-70s alot of Black Americans traveled to France and would glorify how wonderful they were treated. Majority of them were artists, musicians and revolutionists like Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gilespie and Angela Davis. Then again, on the other side they were American. It never really dawned on me how there aren't any Blacks in France's military and parliment. It may be 2008 but France is still behind.

I'm a little surprised to know this about France, although I could be generalizing the country based on my experience in Paris, where everyone seemed to be a mixed couple. I know every country has its racial issues, so it would only make sense. Excellent pod. Got a wrinkle in the brain.

Thank U..I didnt know that France was like this...
I now will think twice on Hunney Mooning there...
I also realize thedirectio America is goin in the rt direction so there world can see we're all ppl so lets get over the Racism..
Again Thank U Freind..

The French ideal of breaking down classes and social inequalities is a noble idea. However, in America, it is dangerous. MLK, Kennedy, Malcolm X all dies because of that. This is why the census is done based off race and not primarily off of class. We would find more in common with each other. We are so locked in on how we look instead of what we can mutually afford. That is what is clear in this country. Our should I say, black and white.

I think if you are not a minority in society, it is difficult to understand why people globally put their support behind Obama. Don't get it twisted, being a minority is not restricted to color, it just so happens to be such in the Presidential position in the US and throughout much of Europe. Obama represents the first in a terrain uncharted. The first person usually has to deal with all the negatives as well as the positive outcomes. Their performance also will predict if there will be a second and third and so on. People talk of change because they know he has the similar experience of having been judged over his appearance. He has had to prove himself to be held in legitimate capacity without scrutiny. We also understand that globally, a minority number of people should not consistently hold such power over the majority. This has been the case with the Europeans Whites reigning economically, militarily and culturally over the larger masses of non-White Europeans in the world.

People who are minorities facing such challenge in their day to day life are eager to see how he maneuvers through the political landscape, so they can observe and attain such attributes for their own maneuvering. A young person can say, "Okay, so I do the kinds of things Obama did, and they will have to take me seriously." I say it is a good thing because with Obama's success, a more diverse style of global success will follow.

this is not interesting at all, being of the other, i find it typical white american bs. No one individual is better than the other, the difference comes with the opportunity for advancement that each is afforded. Education, the ability to work on wall street and not beg on main street makes a big difference. We have been depressed, suppressed, repressed and oppressed for such a long years. It seems a little strange that a Black man from America could possibly bring about some change, no matter how small. Barrack will have his work cut out for him

This is an excellent, intelligent pod.

But... characterizing America - however vaguely - as a 'post-racial' society is ignoring some very, very large issues here: The distribution of wealth, health care and basic human rights, the rise of the KKK, the fallout from Hurricane Katrina...

Check out the Southern Poverty Law Center for some context on that: www.splcenter.org